The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Tom Kuhnhackl to a three-year entry level contract, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Kuhnhackl (KOO-knock-el) was the Penguins’ fourth-round pick (110th overall) at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He is in his first season with Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League. He’s posted 39 goals and 68 points in 63 games with the Spitfires. Kuhnhackl’s 39 goals rank 13th in the OHL, while his 15 power-play tallies are the sixth (tied) best mark in the league. Kuhnhackl played for Team Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y., scoring one goal in six games. Kuhnhackl (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) played 38 games for Landshut in 2009-10, recording 12 goals and 28 points. He added four goals and six points in five games with Team Germany at the World Under-18 Championship. Kuhnhackl comes from a family rooted in hockey tradition. His father, Erich, was elected to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1997 and was named the German hockey player of the century in 2000. Kuhnhackl’s brother and sister also played hockey in Germany.

The Penguins will play before their 200th straight home sellout when they host the Montreal Canadiens Saturday at 2 p.m. at CONSOL Energy Center.

The sellout streak – by far the longest in franchise history – began on Feb. 14, 2007 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Mellon Arena.

The Penguins are on pace to sell out every home game for the fourth straight season. Before 2007-08, the team had never sold out every game in a season.

“Our fans are incredible,” said David Morehouse, CEO and President of the Penguins. “Their support, their passion, and their love for the team and the game of hockey give us a true home-ice advantage, and help to make Pittsburgh such a strong hockey city. We salute them.”

It’s tempting to look at the Pittsburgh Penguins and focus on what they don’t have.

With a concussion continuing to keep Sidney Crosby(notes) off the ice and knee surgery having ended Evgeni Malkin’s(notes) season, the absences have cast a large shadow over this group. However, one major steadying presence remains in the form of coach Dan Bylsma, who has defied the odds by keeping his team pointed in the right direction.

The secret to his success? Whether Bylsma is sending out No. 87 (Crosby) or No. 10 (Mark Letestu(notes)) to take the opening faceoff, the way he prepares his team doesn’t change.

Chris Kunitz, Paul Martin and Tyler Kennedy should be back in the lineup for the Penguins’ next game at Toronto on Wednesday, but this move also provides Pens’ GM Ray Shero a lot of flexibility on his roster as we are under 24 hours until the deadline. From the Penguins:

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned Dustin Jeffrey, Brian Strait and Joe Vitale to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Jeffrey has eight points (5G-3A) in 15 games with Pittsburgh this season. Strait has played in three games for Pittsburgh this year. He made his NHL debut Feb. 21 vs. Washington. Vitale has notched one goal and two points in nine contests with the Penguins. He posted his first career NHL goal Feb. 16 at Colorado. For more information please check http://www.pittsburghpenguins.com and the Penguins’ official Facebook and Twitter page.